Monthly Archives: July 2012

By Chemeketa Public Affairs

Three years ago, Woodburn Academy of International Studies student Maritza Leon was accepted into Chemeketa Community College’s Upward Bound program.

Now the Class of 2012 valedictorian is headed to the University of Portland, thanks to a prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship.

“I know I will be successful in college,” Leon said in a speech to Chemeketa’s Board of Education. “With education and determination, and the Gates scholarship that I have earned, I will continue to earn good grades. With this scholarship I know that all of my dreams will come true and all expenses are covered. I will become a psychiatrist.”

Chemeketa will continue to help students like Leon, as the college was awarded a new five-year, $1.5 million U.S. Department of Education grant to improve academic success at three Mid-Valley high schools and their nearby middle schools.

Upward Bound will provide intensive academic and support services to 74 students per year from low-income families who would be the first generation of their families to complete college.

Chemeketa’s Grant Development Coordinator, Diane Schmitz, said Chemeketa’s new grant is no small accomplishment.

“In a climate of significant cuts to federal funding, Chemeketa was again awarded this very competitive grant–a testament to the quality of our past work and our commitment to help make college a reality for so many students,” Schmitz said.

Chemeketa’s program will serve students from North Salem High School, Santiam High School and Woodburn Academy of International Studies. The project provides mentoring, weekly on-site tutoring at the high schools, test preparation, academic planning, personal finance education, help with college financial aid application help, portfolio development and scholarship writing, academic classes, college applications and academic advising. In addition, students attend Saturday academies, a six-week summer program, and visit colleges throughout the year.

This Upward Bound grant builds on work from the 2007-2012 grant, which served Woodburn, North Salem and Gervais high schools.

Chemeketa’s Upward Bound participants have found great success. Graduates have attended and graduated from colleges including George Fox University, Willamette University and Western Oregon University. Alumni have received prestigious scholarships including Ford Scholarships and two Gates Millennium Scholarships, which pays for all expenses, including studying abroad, up through a doctorate degree.

In her speech to the board, Leon thanked Chemeketa’s staff for their help and support.

“They always help us know that everything will be okay and to work hard in class and learn all you can to prepare for college,” Leon said. “We attend Saturday events that include college visits and community service activities. We also have the opportunity to learn about different careers.”

Nationwide, Upward Bound has helped more than 60,000 students prepare for and enroll in higher education.

By Chemeketa Public Affairs

Join NBA coach Rick Adelman for a day on the greens in support of scholarships for Chemeketa student athletes. Celebrating its 23rd year, the Rick Adelman Golf Classic has raised thousands of dollars in scholarship funds and has become one of the Willamette Valley’s premier tournaments.

Adelman, the former head coach of the Chemeketa men’s basketball team, has gone on to become the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Houston Rockets and currently the Minnesota Timberwolves, with a career record of 971-656.

This event helps provide three men and three women basketball players with three terms of full scholarship funding.

The 2012 Rick Adelman Golf classic will be held Monday, August 6 at Illahe Hills Country Club. More information, including registration and sponsorship details, is available online or by calling 503.365.4747.

By Chemeketa Public Affairs

Salem and Jakarta, Indoenesia are separated by approximately 8,500 miles and a time difference of 14 hours.

But a new memorandum of understanding between Chemeketa Community College and a Jakarta university is creating new connection between the capital of Oregon and the capital of the world’s fourth most populous nation.

In a small ceremony in the boardroom of the Salem campus in May, Chemeketa president Cheryl Roberts signed the memorandum of understanding alongside Dr. Sofia Alisjahbana, rector of Universitas Bakrie in Jakarta.

“The goal of these discussions would be to develop academic and cultural exchanges focused on education, training and research,” the MOU reads. “Subject to mutual consent, the areas of cooperation may include any service or program offered at either institution where cooperation is feasible and desirable.”

Roberts and Alisjahbana met during the past year at the U.S.-Indonesia Higher Education Summit, an event hosted by the U.S. Depeartment of Education to continue strengthening education relationships between the two nations.

“We had a passion and a deep care for the students and the communities and the countries that we serve,” Roberts said of her conversations with Alisjahbana.

The initial agreement will remain in place for two years and can be renewed in one-year increments for up to five additional years.

Possible ways the two schools can work with each would be through exchanges of faculty and student, joint research projects, exchange of academic materials and more.

“It’s not just the signing of the MOU, but the next steps,” Alisjahbana said. “That’s the most important thing.”

“This is the beginning of the conversations to ensure we have great partnerships,” Roberts said.